The midfielder has been told by the three-time Premier League champions that he will not be offered an extension on his current £150,000-a-week deal when it expires at the end of the season, bringing to an end a 12-year association with the Stamford Bridge club.

Lampard, Chelsea' second-highest all-time goalscorer, was free to sign a pre-contract with a foreign club from the start of January, and is open to a move to the States for personal as well as professional reasons.

During Chelsea's tour in North America last summer, Lampard expressed an interest in playing in MLS but admitted that he would wait to see if Chelsea would extend his contract first.

"I am not sure [about a future in MLS]," Lampard said. "I have another year on my contract at Chelsea and we have a big season ahead of us with the Super Cup and the Club World Cup in December. It's up to Chelsea to speak with me about my future and, at that time, I'll speak with them.